BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Foundation wall exterior board insulation with above-grade wall insulation

Guide to Insulating Sheathing

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

January, 2007

Guide providing information on using exterior foam insulating sheathing in building wall assemblies to enhance thermal performance.

Baffles will keep insulation out of the soffit vents and wind out of the insulation in this vented attic.

Publication Date

Sun, 01/01/2017 - 12:00

Advanced Framing: Insulated Headers

Guide describing how to insulate headers over doors and windows to reduce heat loss and heat gain through solid wood framing.

Advanced Framing: Insulated Corners

Guide describing how to frame and insulate corners to reduce heat losses and gains though structural framing.

Double Walls for More Insulation

Guide describing construction and insulation techniques for double wall framing.

This hot climate zone home uses high quality batt insulation to insulate truss-joist headers.

Publication Date

Thu, 01/01/2015 - 12:00

Batt Insulation for Existing Exterior Walls

Guide describing how to achieve RESNET Grade 1 installation standards, and meet/exceed code using batt insulation in existing walls.

Truss wall with cellulose insulation

Publication Date

Sun, 03/01/2009 - 12:00

Batt Insulation for Existing Vented Attics

Guide describing how to increase insulation in existing homes by installing batt insulation on the ceiling plane of a vented attic.

Stucco Over Rigid Foam Insulation

Guide describing how to install stucco over rigid foam insulation in new and existing homes.

3-stud corner with rigid insulation

DWG

PDF

Right – Framing allows corner to be insulated

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Framing allows corner to be insulated

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Double-stud wall with cellulose insulation

Publication Date

Sun, 03/01/2009 - 12:00

This hot climate zone home uses high quality batt insulation between studs to insulate this connecting garage wall.

Publication Date

Thu, 01/01/2015 - 12:00

Interior intersecting wall with 2 studs and rigid insulation

DWG

PDF

Wrong – Framing does not allow corner to be insulated

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong – Framing does not allow corner to be insulated

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong – Framing does not allow corner to be insulated

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong – Excessive framing will not allow corner to be insulated

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Verify continuous rigid insulation is installed

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Certified Insulated Siding: Quality, Comfort and Energy Performance

Author(s)

Dobson,

Brignati

Organization(s)

Vinyl Siding Institute,

Newport Ventures

This presentation will help you define insulated siding, understand R-value testing of insulated siding, describe proper installation of insulated siding, comply with energy codes and understand building energy performance program and software recognition.

Wrong - Insulation does not fill double wall cavity

Structured insulated panels (SIPS) as band joist

DWG

PDF

Advanced Framing: Insulated Interior/Exterior Wall Intersections

Guide describing how to frame and insulate exterior-to-interior wall intersections to reduce heat losses and gains though structural framing.

The builder staggers 2x4 studs on 2x6 top and bottom plates which provides gaps to fill in insulation around the framing for a continuous blanket of insulation.

Builders Guide to Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) for all Climates

Author(s)

Lstiburek Joseph W

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

January, 2015

A book about structurally insulated panels.

Stud Walls With Continuous Exterior Insulation for Factory Built Housing

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

DOE

Publication Date

January, 2014

Case study describing a panelized construction method for stud walls with continuous rigid foam insulation.

Right – Gap in framing will allow corner to be filled with insulation

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Double-stud wall with spray foam and cellulose insulation

Publication Date

Sun, 03/01/2009 - 12:00

Key elements of a wall system clad with insulated vinyl siding

Right – Ladder blocking allows for insulation behind the wall intersection

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Corner framing is placed to allow room in the corners for wall insulation.

This 2x6 wall is advanced framed and filled with dense-packed cellulose insulation.

Spray Foam Insulation Applied over the Siding of Existing Exterior Walls

Guide describing how to install spray foam on the exterior of the existing home after framing over the existing siding.

Inset band joist at mudsill - 1 1/2 inch rigid insulation

DWG

PDF

Advanced framing details include insulated headers over windows and doors.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Verify two member headers with rigid insulation between are installed

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Verify single member headers with insulation on one side are installed

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

The 12-inch-thick double walls provide plenty of space for insulation.

Existing stud wall filled with open cell spray foam cavity insulation

Windows are installed in new framing in preparation for adding exterior spray foam insulation

Existing stud wall filled with closed-cell spray foam cavity insulation

Wrong – The vinyl siding at this gable was installed over plastic foam insulation

Publication Date

Wed, 12/01/2010 - 12:00

This home’s double-wall construction provides a 9-inch wall cavity for insulation.

Closed-cell spray foam insulation is added to the wall cavities of an existing exterior wall

Right – Ladder blocking allows the exterior wall to be insulated where intersected by an interior wall.

Publication Date

Mon, 09/30/2019 - 12:00

Single framed wall converted to double wall and insulated with closed-cell spray foam

Wrong – Conventional T-post detail is extremely difficult to insulate and usually doesn't happen

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Headers over windows on non-load-bearing walls are open to allow room for insulation.

The missing top plate in a kneewall was covered with lumber and rigid foam insulation and then sealed with spray foam

Advanced framing details include framing aligned to allow for insulation at interior-exterior wall intersections.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Technology Solutions Case Study: Retrofit Measures for Embedded Wood Members in Insulated Mass Masonry Walls

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

October, 2015

Case study describing retrofit measures for embedded wood members in insulated mass masonry walls.

Right - Closed-cell spray foam insulation fills the wall cavities of the exterior walls in this home retrofit

Right – Full length 2x6 nailer has been installed to allow space for insulation at wall intersection

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Example of the advanced framing technique, double-stud wall cavity, which will later be filled with blown insulation

Publication Date

Thu, 01/01/2015 - 12:00

Advanced framing details throughout house limit use of lumber and makes space for bonus insulation.

Publication Date

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 12:00

Right – Rigid air barrier installed between double-wall assembly. Inside cavity will be insulated

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

ICFs provide continuous wall insulation from the roof to the footing with very little thermal bridging

Publication Date

Thu, 01/01/2009 - 12:00

Special molded corners provide continuous insulation layer at the corners to improve structural strength and minimize thermal bridging

Publication Date

Sun, 01/01/2012 - 12:00

Wrong – Insulation does not fill entire cavity nor is there an air barrier present between the double wall

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right - Spray foam fills the walls and rim joists to air seal and insulate while caulk seals the framing joints.

Publication Date

Mon, 09/30/2019 - 12:00

Insulating sheathing is extended up to the roof rafters and sealed around the framing with spray foam as part of this exterior wall retrofit

Advanced framing details include corners that are constructed with fewer studs or studs aligned so that insulation can be installed in the corner.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Air seal and insulate double-walls that are half-height or full-height walls used as architectural features in homes.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Construct a double wall consisting of two framed walls forming a wide wall cavity for more insulation in the home’s exterior walls.

The rim joists and top plates are air sealed and insulated with open-cell spray foam while the walls are filled with blown fiberglass.

Ledger board, metal brackets, and vertical 2x4s have been installed in preparation for exterior spray foam in this retrofit exterior wall insulation technique

Stucco is installed over rigid insulation, which is installed over a drainage plane consisting of a drainage gap and building wrap layer over the sheathing

Structural insulated panels offer a continuous layer of thermal protection and draft resistance around the home and come from the factory precut for fast assembly.

Installing ladder blocking at interior-exterior wall intersections rather than three solid studs in the exterior wall as the supporting surface allows room for insulation in the exterior wall.

Right - New flashing has been installed to complete the air and water control layers at the window openings of this wall retrofit that includes insulating the wall cavities with spray foam

Right – A gap separates the two wall layers in this double-stud wall assembly allowing room for insulation to stop thermal bridging between the inner and outer wall

The 2x4 wall studs are staggered along the 2x6 sill plate providing space to weave insulation around each stud to stop thermal bridging through the wall.

Ladder blocking where interior and exterior walls intersect uses less wood and provides more room for insulation than stacking studs in the exterior wall to nail the interior wall to.

Advanced framing details include open headers and reduced framing around windows and two-stud corners to allow more room for insulation in the wall cavities while reducing lumber costs.

Publication Date

Thu, 09/01/2011 - 12:00

Brick veneer framed wall supported by a concrete slab-on-grade foundation with a turn-down footing insulated on its top surface, showing anchorage of the wall to the foundation for seismic resistance

Publication Date

Tue, 08/24/2021 - 12:00

The energy-saving double wall construction uses two side-by-side stud walls, providing an extra-thick wall cavity that can be filled with more than twice as much insulation as a 2x6 wall.

Right – This home is framed with double walls – two 2x4 walls set next to each other then sheathed with OSB on the exterior and netted on the interior face to create an extra-deep wall cavity that can be filled with blown-in insulation.

Publication Date

Thu, 09/30/2021 - 12:00

Advanced framing techniques including 2x6 walls spaced at 24 inches on center and ladder blocking at wall intersections allow more space for insulation in the wall cavities while open-web floor joists provide space between floors for ducting.

Publication Date

Mon, 01/01/2018 - 12:00

Each floor of this two-story modular home is constructed in a factory, including the 2x6, 24-inch on-center walls, R-21 fiberglass batt cavity insulation, and rigid exterior foam, housewrap, windows, and trim, then connected on site.

The exterior walls are double walls consisting of two 2x4 stud walls set 3 inches apart to form a 10-inch-thick wall cavity that is filled with blown-in fiberglass to provide a continuous R-40 blanket of insulation around the home.

Double Wall Framing - Code Compliance Brief

Double stud wall wood framing is not specifically addressed in the International Residential Code (IRC) or International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); it is neither encouraged nor discouraged. Recommendations of where the vapor retarder and air barrier should be placed, based on research and testing are further defined in this Code Compliance Brief.

Double-Wall Architectural Feature

Guide describing air barrier installation, insulation installation, and air-sealing for double walls (half or full walls included in a home design as an architectural feature that provides a more dimensional appearance).

Vinyl Siding with Integrated Rigid Foam for Existing Walls

Guide describing the design and installation considerations for recladding of above grade walls using insulated vinyl siding.

Advanced Framing vs Traditional Framing

Publication Date

December, 2012

Author(s)

Risinger

Organization(s)

Build with Matt Risinger

Video describing traditional 2x4 16 inch on center framing versus advanced framing with 2x6 stud walls at 24 inch on center, insulated corners and headers, wall stud-ceiling joist alignment, etc. providing a strong wall with more room for insulation.

Install Top Plates or Blocking at the Top of Walls Adjoining Unconditioned Spaces

Guide describing how to correctly air-seal a wall with missing top plates or open wall cavities.

Technology Solutions Case Study: Stand-Off Furring in Deep Energy Retrofits

Author(s)

IBACOS

Organization(s)

IBACOS

Publication Date

May, 2014

Case study describing a stand-off furring strategy that minimizes the physical connections to each existing wall stud, uses spray foam to encapsulate existing siding materials (including lead paint), and creates a vented rain screen assembly to promote drying.